• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Topping A30Pro Review (Balanced Headphone Amp)

epidimik

New Member
Joined
May 28, 2022
Messages
1
Likes
1
Ultra new into the HIFI game, don't eat me alive lol.

HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Topping D30 Pro
Topping A30 Pro
-Balanced XLR between the two, 6.35mm out.

What gain setting / volume position does this become dangerous to the ear?

The sound at high gain / volume at 10/11oclock on the Arya's is breathtaking and nothing like I've ever experienced before, but I also don't wanna go deaf in a week lol. Is there any recommendations not to exceed a certain gain/volume level besides "when it hurts"? Sorry for basic af question, been lurking here for awhile now, any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks! :)
 

phoenixsong

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Nov 17, 2018
Messages
874
Likes
685
Ultra new into the HIFI game, don't eat me alive lol.

HIFIMAN Arya Stealth
Topping D30 Pro
Topping A30 Pro
-Balanced XLR between the two, 6.35mm out.

What gain setting / volume position does this become dangerous to the ear?

The sound at high gain / volume at 10/11oclock on the Arya's is breathtaking and nothing like I've ever experienced before, but I also don't wanna go deaf in a week lol. Is there any recommendations not to exceed a certain gain/volume level besides "when it hurts"? Sorry for basic af question, been lurking here for awhile now, any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks! :)
Taking frequent breaks for your ears helps a lot as well
 

Disconnect

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2022
Messages
6
Likes
6
My D30 Pro - A30 Pro setup under my work table. With a lot of airflow to keep it fresh. Joining forces to feed my beloved Hifiman Sundara. I decided to put the fan in intake mode (pushing air towards the A30 Pro).

1.jpg
2.jpg
4.jpg
 

abhishek

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2021
Messages
24
Likes
11
Location
India, Bangaluru
@Disconnect
I'm using my DIYed amd stock cpu fan converted to usb A 5v adapter powered spinning below 1000rpm to suck the hot air from the holes and it cooled amp chassis instantly,
Blowing air into to the holes results in dust accumulation. So i preferred suction method.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20220428_151104172~2.jpg
    PXL_20220428_151104172~2.jpg
    290.2 KB · Views: 131
  • PXL_20220610_120457725~2.jpg
    PXL_20220610_120457725~2.jpg
    289.1 KB · Views: 129
Last edited:

Lupin

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Messages
575
Likes
961
My D30 Pro - A30 Pro setup under my work table. With a lot of airflow to keep it fresh. Joining forces to feed my beloved Hifiman Sundara. I decided to put the fan in intake mode (pushing air towards the A30 Pro).

View attachment 211831View attachment 211832View attachment 211833
Nice setup :)
It will accumulate dust in the A30Pro ofc but who cares, it runs cool.

I see you also have an Audio-GD NFB with fan mounted on it(?). Did you mod/cut the top plate? At least my Audio-GD unit doesn't have any ventilation holes in the chassis so putting a fan on it won't do much.
 

Disconnect

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2022
Messages
6
Likes
6
Nice setup :)
It will accumulate dust in the A30Pro ofc but who cares, it runs cool.

Yes, dust can be accumulated, although the fan (Artic F9 Silent) is separated 1cm from the top of the box, so it doesn't inject air directly into the holes but distributes it all over the box surface. I tried the fan both in exhaust and intake modes and intake mode was better in lowering temperatures. But, yes, dust can be an issue. I will see it in a few weeks.

1654860434106.png


I see you also have an Audio-GD NFB with fan mounted on it(?). Did you mod/cut the top plate? At least my Audio-GD unit doesn't have any ventilation holes in the chassis so putting a fan on it won't do much.

My NFB-11 is from 2014. I bought directly to Audio-GD China. It has some vents on the top of the box. No mods or cuts were needed:

1654859287177.png


So I just attached an Artic F8 Silent fan on top of the vents (in exhaust mode, taking air out of the box). This lowered the temperature of the box dramatically.

1654860573074.png


1654860329899.png


The fan is attached with electrical tape, so it's not beautiful, but being behind my table, I don't see it much.
 

raif71

Major Contributor
Joined
Sep 7, 2019
Messages
2,333
Likes
2,535
Yes, dust can be accumulated, although the fan (Artic F9 Silent) is separated 1cm from the top of the box, so it doesn't inject air directly into the holes but distributes it all over the box surface. I tried the fan both in exhaust and intake modes and intake mode was better in lowering temperatures. But, yes, dust can be an issue. I will see it in a few weeks.

View attachment 211956



My NFB-11 is from 2014. I bought directly to Audio-GD China. It has some vents on the top of the box. No mods or cuts were needed:

View attachment 211948

So I just attached an Artic F8 Silent fan on top of the vents (in exhaust mode, taking air out of the box). This lowered the temperature of the box dramatically.

View attachment 211957

View attachment 211955

The fan is attached with electrical tape, so it's not beautiful, but being behind my table, I don't see it much.
I have the audio-gd r2r-11. Looks kinda the same front panel to me
 

Lupin

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Messages
575
Likes
961
Yes, dust can be accumulated, although the fan (Artic F9 Silent) is separated 1cm from the top of the box, so it doesn't inject air directly into the holes but distributes it all over the box surface. I tried the fan both in exhaust and intake modes and intake mode was better in lowering temperatures. But, yes, dust can be an issue. I will see it in a few weeks.

View attachment 211956



My NFB-11 is from 2014. I bought directly to Audio-GD China. It has some vents on the top of the box. No mods or cuts were needed:

View attachment 211948

So I just attached an Artic F8 Silent fan on top of the vents (in exhaust mode, taking air out of the box). This lowered the temperature of the box dramatically.

View attachment 211957

View attachment 211955

The fan is attached with electrical tape, so it's not beautiful, but being behind my table, I don't see it much.
Aaah, I have the newer NFB-11.38 that doesn't have any holes in the top plate.
But now it makes sense with the added pictures. :)
 
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
13
Likes
7
Im torn between the a30pro / d30pro vs the l50 / e50 stack. Will it make any difference used with hifiman arya? As far as I'm aware, even a dx3 pro+ will be able to drive them power wise, right?

Thing is I'd also love to be able to use my IEM's (shure se846), but the L50 lacks a 3.5mm headphone out, so basically it comes down to whether it's worth to pay 200€ for a minijack :p

Any suggestions?
 

abhishek

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2021
Messages
24
Likes
11
Location
India, Bangaluru
Im torn between the a30pro / d30pro vs the l50 / e50 stack. Will it make any difference used with hifiman arya? As far as I'm aware, even a dx3 pro+ will be able to drive them power wise, right?

Thing is I'd also love to be able to use my IEM's (shure se846), but the L50 lacks a 3.5mm headphone out, so basically it comes down to whether it's worth to pay 200€ for a minijack :p

Any suggestions?
For arya v2 A30 pro provides more headroom if you are into EQ(bass), l50 is enough if u are not into EQ.
For stealth arya go for l50
 
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
13
Likes
7
For arya v2 A30 pro provides more headroom if you are into EQ(bass), l50 is enough if u are not into EQ.
For stealth arya go for l50
Yeah stealth arya.

Seriously you think the V2 won't be enough on L50? Wow. They must be freaking hard to drive.

I prefer the a30 pro to be fair, but then i'll end up paying 370€ for the d30 dac, which I consider a little bit overboard
 

Veri

Master Contributor
Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
9,596
Likes
12,036
I prefer the a30 pro to be fair, but then i'll end up paying 370€ for the d30 dac, which I consider a little bit overboard
How about A30 Pro + cheaper DAC? For example the new SMSL D-6, has TRS outputs so you can use a simple TRS cable to connect both.
 
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
13
Likes
7
How about A30 Pro + cheaper DAC? For example the new SMSL D-6, has TRS outputs so you can use a simple TRS cable to connect both.
The smsl d6 looks amazing. Ill check the dimensions, if it kinda fits with the a30 pro size wise as a stack, im getting it. Thanks
 

wacomme

Senior Member
Joined
May 11, 2022
Messages
428
Likes
110
I'm loving my L50 + SMSL DO100 combo. However, the max I'm driving right now are Sundara headphones. My averaging listening level is around 15-20 (out of 100). This is with EQ. I was thinking I'd need the A30 Pro, but the L50 is working for me just fine. Thus, I don't have any worries about heat from the amp - and the L50 stats are stellar.
 

Phoney

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2021
Messages
370
Likes
236
Im torn between the a30pro / d30pro vs the l50 / e50 stack. Will it make any difference used with hifiman arya? As far as I'm aware, even a dx3 pro+ will be able to drive them power wise, right?

Thing is I'd also love to be able to use my IEM's (shure se846), but the L50 lacks a 3.5mm headphone out, so basically it comes down to whether it's worth to pay 200€ for a minijack :p

Any suggestions?
I drive Arya v2 with -3,3db gain at low gain using 50-60% on the volume knob. You don't really need this much power
 
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
13
Likes
7
Thank you all for the replies, one last question - and im sorry - it might sound stupid, im competely noob. If I connect the dac with the amp with a balanced cable (so XLR in the case of the a30 / d30 combo), do the headphones also need to be connected with balanced? Basically what I'm asking is, if the input on the amplifier is balanced, does the output (headphone out) need to be connected with balance, or will it work with SE as well?
 

usern

Senior Member
Joined
May 31, 2020
Messages
487
Likes
499
Thank you all for the replies, one last question - and im sorry - it might sound stupid, im competely noob. If I connect the dac with the amp with a balanced cable (so XLR in the case of the a30 / d30 combo), do the headphones also need to be connected with balanced? Basically what I'm asking is, if the input on the amplifier is balanced, does the output (headphone out) need to be connected with balance, or will it work with SE as well?
No matter what input you select on A30pro, all headphone outputs work.

Difference between XLR in and RCA in is that with RCA you cannot go as loud as XLR on headphone outputs.
 
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
13
Likes
7
No matter what input you select on A30pro, all headphone outputs work.

Difference between XLR in and RCA in is that with RCA you cannot go as loud as XLR on headphone outputs.
Great, thank you, so if I keep my stock headphone cable (which is 6.3mm), there won't be any difference.
 
Top Bottom